Tone-transformer



W. C. KIDDER.

TONE TRANSFORMER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1918.

1,362,326, Patented Dec.14, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. KIDDER, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

TONE-TRANSFORMER.

Application filed September 16, 1918.

numerous kinds of wind instruments to change the tone thereof by making" it more reedy, provision being made however whereby the pitch need not be changed.

lVith the foregoing object in view, the invention resides-in the novel features of con-. struction and unique arrangements of parts as hereinafter fully described, claimed and illustrated.

In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is shown a side elevation of the tone transformer applied to the bell of a wind instrument such as a cornet.

Fig. 2 is a view very similar to Fig. 1 but showing the device in section.

Figs. 3 and d are transverse sections on the planes of the lines and H respectively of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section as indicated by the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the diaphragm and associated parts.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation partly in section showing a different manner of adjustably mounting the device.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates a supporting memher in the form of a sleeve split longitudinally at 2 and having a clamping screw 3 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) or a clamping nut 4 (Fig. 7) for contracting it around the tubular body 5 of the tone transformer. The supporting member 1 is provided with carrying arms 6 which extend laterally therefrom at 7 and then converge longitudinally, having their ends joined by any suitable means These arms are formed of two strands of wire twisted together and at 9, certain of the convolutions are spread to receive and hold pads 10 of felt or any other preferred material, said pads forming shoes to engage the wall of the sound passage with which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14. 1920.

Serial No. 254,297.

the device is used. The pads 10 are by preference located near the angles of the arms 6, and located between these pads and the connected ends of said arms, are a plurality of elongated plates 11 having openings 12 in their ends, the two strands of wire 13 of each arm being passed outwardly through the openings at one end of the plate and inwardly through those at the other end thereof. The portions of said strands between the openings receive therebetween and grip other pads or shoes 11 by preference formed of cork, although any other yielding material would suflice. The pads 14:, in addition to the securing action of the wires 13, are by preference cemented to the plates 11.

- By constructing the arms 6 in the manner shown and described, the device may be manufactured easily and inexpensively, yet

will be highly eflicient and durable, par- 7 ticular emphasis being laid upon the novel manner of securing the pads 10 and 14L in place.-

The above mentioned tubular body 5 of the tone transformer is open at its inner end i and provided at its outer. end with an inwardly turned flange 15 against which a diaphragm 16 of oiled paper or any other preferred material bears, a gasket 17 of rubber or the like being positioned against the outer side of said diaphragm and serving to separate the same from a protecting screen 18 of wire fabric. A cap 19 is threaded on the end of the tube 5 in question and is provided with an inwardly extending flange 20 which retains the three parts 16, 17 and 18 in place. Cap 20 is by preference provided with a flared flange 21 serving as a grip by means of which the cap may be removed when required, or adjusted to either ti htly or loosely clamp the parts 16, 17 an 18, said grip also serving to adjust the tube 5 longitudinally in 'the supporting sleeve 1 when this sleeve is loosened.

In use, the device is inserted in the bell or in anyother suitable part of the wind instrument upon which it is to be used, the shoes 10 and 1 1 yieldably gripping the wall of the sound passage to retain the device in place. When the instrument is played, the tone thereof will be changed to one greatly desired for some purposes. However, it may be found that the pitch has been altered by the insertion of the device. If so, the contracting means of the sleeve 1 is released and the tube 5 is moved inwardly or outwardly until the pitch is restored, whereupon said contracting means is again operated to secure the tube in the sleeve. The action of the device is attained by the vibratory currents of air in the bell of the instrument entering the tube 5 and striking the diaphragm 16, which being under tension, vibrates rapidly and thus changes the tone of the instrument as required. In some cases, the device may be constructed for use in a mute for wind instruments, or for insertion inthe barrel of any reed instrument.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be obvious that my invention is of comparatively simple and inexpensive nature. Since probably the best results are obtained from the details shown and described, theyare by preference followed, but within thescope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor changes may well be made.

I claim 1. An attachment of the class described comprising a supporting sleeve having arms for yieldably engaging the wall of an instrument sound passage, and a tubular tone transformer received slidably in said sleeve for adjustment longitudinally of said passage, said transformer having a diaphragm at its outer end and being open at its inner end.

2. A tone transformer comprising a tube for reception in a sound passage of a wind instrument, means for holding said tube in such passage and spacing it therefrom to allowthe escape of air currents from the passage, and a diaphragm closing the outer end of said tube, the inner end of said tube being open to admit air currents.

3. The combination with a tone transformer, of twisted wire arms extending therefrom, and yielding shoes held between the convolutions of said arms and adapted for contact with the wall of an instrument sound passage.

4. The combination with a tone transformer, of twisted wire arms extending therefrom, plates having openings through whichthewires of said arms pass ifirst outwardly and .then inwardly, and yielding shoes on the outer sides of said plates and gripped between the portions of said wires between said openings, said shoes being adapted for contact with the wall of an instrument sound passage.

.Atone transformer comprising atube open atone end-andmeans for supporting said tube inasoundipassage of an instrument, the other .end ofesaid tube having an inwardly turned flange, :a diaphragm contacting with the outerside-yof said fiange, a gasket abutting the outer side .of said diaphragm,.a. screen contacting with the outer sideof said gasket, .and-aeap threaded on thelastnamedendof said tube and having an inwardlyextending flange fonsecuring said.screen,-;gasket andfdiaphragm in place.

6. -An attachment of the class described, comprising a support forengaging the wall of a sound passage ofa wind instrument, and a tonetransformer of elongated tubular form mounted on said ,supp'ort'and capable bodily of. longitudinal adjustment thereon.

7. An attachment of the class-described, comprising a support for engagingthe wall of the sound passage of a wind instrument, and a tubulartone transformer mounted on said support andcapableof longitudinal adjustmentthereon and having a diaphragm at its outer. end and being openat its inner end.

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM C. KIDDER. 

